Can opener



E. F. ERNST April, 14, 1936.

CAN OPENER Filed 001:. 31, 1935 fnv'eniov fawl/v F ERA/s7 Patented Apr. 14, 1936 UNITED STAT-ES P-A'TE'N'T OFFICE 4 Claims.

My invention relates generally tocan openers and-more particularly to a device for opening cans of evaporated milk.

It is well known to those skilled in the art that 5 evaporated milk may be conveniently dispensed from the can containing the same only when the can is provided with two or more openings, one or more for pouring and the others for the admission of air. The openings are usually formed by 1 the use of some convenient implement, such as an ice pick or a nail. V

The principal object of my invention has been to provide an opener by which two diametrically opposite holes may, in one operation, be con- 1;, veniently and easily punched in the top of a can containing evaporated milk or other liquids.

Another object has been to provide a device of such nature which may be inexpensively manufactured.

20 Moreover, my device provides a support for the can while the punches are being forced into the upper surface thereof.

The above objects and advantages have been accomplished by the device shown in the accompanying drawing, of which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the device in an operativeposition.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, side elevation showing 30 the device in use.

Fig. 4 is a side, front elevation of a modified form of device.

My opener comprises a base 5 having a bottom supporting member 6 at eachside of which is an 5 upstanding arm 'I. The length of this supporting member and, therefore, the space between the upstanding arms 'I, is such that a can of evaporated milk or other liquids, represented at 8 by the dot and dash lines in Figs. 1 and 4 and in full 40 lines in Fig. 3, may be passed between the arms and placed upon the supporting member. The upper ends of the arms I are tied together and held in definite spaced relation by means of a connecting brace 9. This brace is arranged at 45 such height from the supporting member 6 that a can 8 of a size for which the device is designed may pass underneath the same. The brace is provided at each end with a brace arm I 0' which is preferably disposed on the outside of the arms 50 I of the base 5 and these arms are secured in place preferably by means of rivets I I.

Pivotally mounted between the upstanding arms I is the operating yoke I2 of my device. This yoke has two inwardly extending arms I3 55 which are connected at their outer ends by means of abar M. An operating handle I5 is either formed from the material forming the :yoke' 01' "The inner ends of the yoke arms I3 are pivotally secured to the upstanding arms I. of the base pref 5 erably by means of the same rivets II which secure the connecting brace 9 in place. These ends of the yoke arms. I3 are held in spaced relation with the inner faces of the upstanding arms I by means of spacing washers 20, hereinafter re- 10 ferred to.

Formed on the side edge surface of each yoke .arm I3 is a punch member 2|. These punch members are pointed and are arranged only a slight distance in front of the pivotal points II of the 1.3 arms so that a powerful cam action is produced when the yoke is operated to force the punches down into the top of the can. The spacing washers locate the punches 2| so that they will come inside of the rim (not shown) of the can 20 and enter the tin top of the can at some distance from the edge thereof.

The base member 5 and the connecting brace, as well as the operating yoke, are preferably made from band iron or steel so that they can be inexpensively and easily manufactured.

In Fig. 4, I show a modified form of my invention in which the upper ends of the side arms 1 of the base are fastened together and held in interspaced relation by means of a bar 22. This bar may be either round or rectangular in crosssection and is provided with a cylindrical, turned portion 23 of reduced size at each end thereof which provides the pivotal connection for the arms I3 of the yoke I2 and for the spacing washers 20. Each end of the bar is also preferably provided with a portion 24 which is further reduced and which is made long enough so that it may pass through a suitable aperture formed in the arm 1 and thereafter be riveted over as 4 shown.

When my device is to be put into use, the can 8 is placed upon the supporting member I5 and between the upstanding arms I. The operating yoke I2 is now brought down so as to cause the punches 2| to engage with the top of the can at points substantially diametrically opposite each other. When the can is brought into proper position with respect to the punches, the operating yoke I2 is pressed downwardly, thus easily forcing the punches 2| through the tin top of the can and simultaneously providing two diametrically opposite openings, through one of which the contents may be thereafter poured, and through the other of which air may enter.

While I have shown my invention as made up of sheet iron or steel, and the handle ll of the operating yoke made in one piece with the yoke, it is obvious that other materials made may be used and that a separate handle may be provided on the yoke.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A can opener comprising a base of U-shaped form having a supporting member for the can and two interspaced arms extending upwardly from the base, and an operating yoke formed with two yoke arms connected by a bar, each yoke arm being pivotally attached at its inner end to the arms of the base and each yoke arm being provided with a punch near its inner end andclose to the pivotal point thereof.

2. A can opener comprising a base of U-shaped. form having a supporting member for the can and two interspaced arms extending upwardly from the base, a brace connecting the upper ends of the base arms for keeping them in spaced relation, and an operating yoke formed with two yoke arms connected by a cross bar, each yoke arm being pivotally attached at its inner end to the arms of the base and each arm being provided with a punch near its inner end and close to the pivotal point thereof.

3. A can opener comprising a base of U-shaped form having a supporting member for the can and two interspaced arms extending upwardly from the base, an operating yoke pivotally carried by the interspaced arms of the base and provided with two punches, and a spacing washer arranged between each of the yoke arms and the base arms.

4. A can opener comprising a base of U-shaped form having a, supporting member for the can and two interspaced arms extending upwardly from the base, a brace connecting the upper ends of the base arms for keeping them in spaced relation, an operating yoke formed with two yoke arms connected by a cross bar, each yoke arm being pivotally attached at its inner end to the arms of the base and each arm being provided with a punch near its inner end and close to the pivotal point thereof, and a spacing washer arranged between each of the yoke arms and the base arms.

EDWIN F. ERNST. 

